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Project Dasher Gets Results

Undercover officers have dismantled a street-level drug network operating out of an Oshawa fishing supply store and seized approximately $1 million in cash, drugs and luxury vehicles.

The 15-month drug trafficking investigation, dubbed Project Dasher, was led by the Durham Regional Police Intelligence Branch and involved undercover police officers purchasing cocaine and other drugs on the streets of Durham Region. The investigation then led officers to locations in York Region and Toronto.

During the investigation, officers arrested and charged 11 people with 66 criminal offences. Most of the charges relate to trafficking cocaine. Arrest warrants have been issued for an additional two people who will face a combined six charges.

Officers seized a .380 calibre handgun, $465,638 in U.S. cash, $18,715 in Canadian cash, and quantities of cocaine and marihuana, with a street value exceeding $145,000.

Chief Constable Mike Ewles and Inspector Tom Cameron met with reporters on February 25th to show some of the cash, drugs and vehicles seized.

Seized as offence-related property were six luxury vehicles including a Porsche Cayenne, a Range Rover, a BMW X5, a Cadillac CTS, a GMC Yukon, and a Chrysler 300.

Project Dasher began when police received information about drug trafficking at the Rock & Reel Outdoors store at 500 King Street West in Oshawa. Police allege that the owners of that establishment sold marihuana, hashish, and cocaine to undercover police officers on a number of occasions.

Further investigation uncovered a network of drug dealers operating in Durham Region, York Region and Toronto that was responsible for distributing cocaine on the streets of Durham and elsewhere in the GTA.

“Street-level drugs will not be tolerated here in Durham Region,” says Police Chief Mike Ewles, “We will continue to focus on removing these harmful drugs from our communities, drugs that are often the root cause of other criminal activity. We encourage citizens to help us by sharing information about drug dealers or the location of deals.”